Ram Mandir must come up at its original site. We all want it but though consensus and dialogue with the Muslims, says a resident of Ayodhya.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s decision to worship Ram Lalla at the make-shift temple in Ayodhya and attend birthday celebration of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the seer behind the Ram Mandir movement, was not without reason.

Through his decision to offer prayer at the Ram Janmabhoomi, Adityanath succeeded in conveying the message that now there was a government in the state which cared for the sentiments of the Hindus. He however also made it clear that Ram Mandir could only be constructed through dialogue between all warring factions.

Adityanath had attended birthday celebrations of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das earlier also. But this time, his presence at the event as chief minister conveyed a different message to people, especially the natives of Ayodhya.

“Sharing the stage with Mahant Nritya Gopal Das as chief minister has altogether different meaning,” said Dr Mridula Rai, a lecturer in a degree college.

“The chief minister’s decision to offer prayer at Ram Janmabhoomi has also conveyed a message. Times have changed since demolition of the mosque. Now, no sensible chief minister will issue unwarranted statements related with construction of Ram Mandir,” she added. Rai endorsed the CM’s decision to resolve the Ayodhya issue through dialogue.

Ratna Shukla also agreed that the issue should be resolved through dialogue. “By coming to Ayodhya and offering prayer at Hanuman Garhi and Ram Janmabhoomi the CM has clearly expressed his sentiments,” said Shukla.

“You cannot expect a CM to whip-up sentiments of people on the issue. People of Ayodhya want development and amicable solution of the vexed Ayodhya issue,” added Shukla.

Raghuvar Das, aged around 75 years and a resident of Hanuman Garhi area, wants a Ram Mandir at the disputed site but not at the cost of peace and harmony. “Ram Mandir must come up at its original site. We all want it but though consensus and dialogue with the Muslims,” said Das.